CRYSTAL ISLAND STUDY (YEAR 4)


PROCEDURES



Note on Game Quest Access:

1. Once a teacher turns on a gameplay quest for a certain content topic (e.g., landforms in week 1) through the Teacher Dashboard, it should NEVER be turned off. Instead, the teacher should simply ADDITIONALLY turn on other quests (e.g., map and navigation, modeling,and concluding quests).

2. For the first time of gameplay, have students select "New Game". From next time on, have students select "Load Game" (continue from where they stop).

3. It is recommended to put the dashboard URL (see "Link to Teacher Dashboard" wiki page) on your school website so students don't have to type.


Prior to WEEK 1: Pre-test
  • Send home consent forms with students and have students return them to you with a parent's signature.
  • Ensure all students have been set up with an account (Username and Password) to access the pre-test, game, and post-test using the teacher dashboard.
  • Have students log into the pre-test with their Username and Password. Only students who have signed consent forms should take the pre-test. Students without signed consent forms should be given another activity to complete during this time.
  • Ensure that students complete the Pre-test in its entirety.
(The pre-test takes about 30-40 minutes. It must be enabled through the teacher dashboard. Teachers can ONLY assist students with technological issues when needed. They should NOT provide help on content related questions. Students should work independently. )


WEEK 1: Landforms

One Day 1, teachers should explain to students the importance of not sharing accounts/log-in information, always playing on their own, and that they have the ability to access at home.


On Day 1, teachers will also hand out the folders and have students write their ID/Password on them. Teachers should also have students put all CI5 related work in the folders. CI5 researchers will collect all folders at the end of the 4-week study).

Day 1: Introduction, Crystal Island Tutorial, Introduction to Project and Final Goals
  • Introduce the Crystal Island project
  • Allow students to view the online Crystal Island backstory for a visual introduction to the game
  • Allow students to play through the Crystal Island tutorial level to learn how to play the game
  • Outline goals of project and introduce Final Inquiry Project

Useful Tips for Background Story Video and Game Tutorial:

CI-5 game runs using unity player. The first time students access the game, unity player needs to be downloaded. This process may take longer than expected due to limited internet speed and when all students run the game at the same time. To save time:

1. Have each student log in to the dashboard AND click on "game/tutorial" (the url to the tutorial and the game is the same; make sure kids click on "tutorial/game" because this will enable unity player to begin download)
2. While unity player is being downloaded, kids watch the story video together on a big screen.
3. When the video story is done, unity player will have already been downloaded on some computers...

Day 2: Lesson 1 on Landforms, Paper assessment
  • Teach Lesson 1 on Landforms
  • Have students complete paper assessment associated with Lesson 1
  • Ensure that students complete the assignment and place it in their Crystal Island folder

Day 3: Gameplay with Landform quest turned on
  • Turn Landform quest on prior to student gameplay using the teacher dashboard
  • Have students log into the game with their Username and Password to play game
  • Have students select "New Game"
  • Walk around to assist students with technological issues when needed

END OF WEEK: COMPLETE WEEKLY TEACHER SURVEY
  • Log in and complete weekly teacher survey before end of day on Friday of first week


WEEK 2: Maps and Navigation

Day 4: Lesson 2 on Maps and Navigation
  • Teach Lesson 2 on Maps and Navigation

Day 5: Lesson 3 on Maps and Navigation, Paper assessment
  • Teach Lesson 3 on Maps and Navigation
  • Have students complete paper assessment associated with Lesson 3
  • Ensure that students complete the assignment and place it in their Crystal Island folder

Day 6: Gameplay with Landform quest and Maps and Navigation quest turned on
  • Additionally turn Maps and Navigation quest on prior to student gameplay using the teacher dashboard
  • Have students log into the game with their Username and Password to play game
  • Have students select "Load Game" (from the 2nd time of gameplay, select "load game" to continue from where they stopped the 1st time)
  • Walk around to assist students with technological issues when needed

END OF WEEK:** COMPLETE WEEKLY TEACHER SURVEY
  • Log in and complete weekly teacher survey before end of day on Friday of second week


WEEK 3: Modeling

Day 7: Lesson 4 on Modeling, Paper assessment
  • Teach Lesson 4 on Modeling
  • Have students complete paper assessment associated with Lesson 4
  • Ensure that students complete the assignment and place it in their Crystal Island folder

Day 8: Gameplay with Landform quest, Maps and Navigation quest, and Modeling quest turned on
  • Additionally turn Modeling quest on prior to student gameplay using the teacher dashboard
  • Have students log into the game with their Username and Password to play the game
  • Have students select "Load Game"
  • Walk around to assist students with technological issues when needed

Day 9:**Gameplay with Landform quest, Maps and Navigation quest, and Modeling quest turned on

  • Modeling quest should already be turned on from previous session (ensure that the quests are in fact on) using the teacher dashboard
  • Have students log into the game with their Username and Password to play the game
  • Have students select "Load Game"
  • Walk around to assist students with technological issues when needed

END OF WEEK:** COMPLETE WEEKLY TEACHER SURVEY
  • Log in and complete weekly teacher survey before end of day on Friday of the third week


WEEK 4

Day 10: Gameplay with Landform quest, Maps and Navigation quest, Modeling quest, and Concluding quest enabled
  • Additionally turn concluding quest on prior to student gameplay using the teacher dashboard
  • Have students log into the game with their Username and Password to play the game
  • Have students select "Load Game"
  • Walk around to assist students with technological issues when needed

Day 11:** Lesson 5 wrap-up, Begin Final Inquiry Projects
  • Teach Lesson 5 to wrap up the Crystal Island lesson curriculum
  • Allow students time to begin their Final Inquiry Projects

Day 12: Finish projects, Project presentations
  • Allow students to finish their Final Inquiry Projects
  • Allow students to present their Final Inquiry Projects to the class
  • Collect Final Inquiry Projects

Day 13: Post-test
  • Have students log into the post-test with their Username and Password to complete the post-test. Only students who have signed consent forms should take the post-test. Students without signed consent forms should be given another activity to complete during this time.
  • Ensure that students complete Post-test.
(The post-test takes about 30-40 minutes. It must be enabled through the teacher dashboard. Teachers can ONLY assist students with technological issues when needed. They should NOT provide help on content related questions. Students should work independently.)

END OF WEEK: COMPLETE WEEKLY TEACHER SURVEY
  • Log in and complete weekly teacher survey before end of day on Friday of fourth week
  • We will collect folders from students with signed consent forms